*Article* **The Increase of Soft Cheese Shelf-Life Packaged with Edible Films Based on Novel Hybrid Nanostructures**

**Aris E. Giannakas 1,\* , Constantinos E. Salmas 2,\* , Dimitrios Moschovas <sup>2</sup> , Konstantinos Zaharioudakis 1,3 , Stavros Georgopoulos <sup>1</sup> , Georgios Asimakopoulos <sup>2</sup> , Anastasios Aktypis <sup>3</sup> , Charalampos Proestos <sup>4</sup> , Anastasios Karakassides <sup>2</sup> , Apostolos Avgeropoulos <sup>2</sup> , Nikolaos E. Zafeiropoulos <sup>2</sup> and George-John Nychas <sup>3</sup>**


**Abstract:** This study presents, the development of a green method to produce rich in thymol natural zeolite (TO@NZ) nanostructures. This material was used to prepare sodium-alginate/glycerol/ xTO@NZ (ALG/G/TO@NZ) nanocomposite active films for the packaging of soft cheese to extend its shelf-life. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) instruments were used for the characterization of such nanostructures and films, to identify the thymol adsorbed amount, to investigate the thermal behaviour, and to confirm the dispersion of nanostructure powder into the polymer matrix. Water vapor transmission rate, oxygen permeation analyzer, tensile measurements, antioxidant measurements, and antimicrobial measurements were used to estimate the film's water and oxygen barrier, mechanical properties, nanostructure's nanoreinforcement activity, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The findings from the study revealed that ALG/G/TO@NZ nanocomposite film could be used as an active packaging film for foods with enhanced, mechanical properties, oxygen and water barrier, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, and it is capable of extending food shelf-life.

**Keywords:** active packaging; soft cheese preservation; sodium alginate; thyme oil; natural zeolite; shelf-life extension
